This comprehensive guide explores the world of DIY camping fire starters, offering a step-by-step process for creating your own using readily available materials like old candles, cotton pads, and newspaper. We delve into two distinct methods: wax-dipped cotton pads and wax-coated newspaper rolls, comparing their performance in a real-world burn test conducted under challenging windy and damp conditions. The experiment also investigates the impact of adding citronella oil to the wax mixture, analyzing any resulting changes in burn time or other characteristics.Beyond the DIY aspect, the article provides a cost-benefit analysis by comparing homemade fire starters to commercially available options. We assess the time investment, material costs, and overall effectiveness of both approaches, helping you decide whether the rewarding experience of crafting your own fire starters outweighs the convenience and affordability of purchasing pre-made cubes. The ultimate goal is to equip you with the knowledge to make an informed choice that best suits your camping needs and personal preferences.
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Creating a Double Boiler for Wax Melting
The process begins with creating a double boiler for safely melting the paraffin wax. This prevents overheating and potential hazards. I utilized an old pot and a black bean can, but any heat-safe containers will work.
Inside the inner container, I placed old candles to melt down. You can use store-bought paraffin wax as well. The melted wax forms the base of our fire starters.
Making Fire Starters with Cotton Pads
For the first type of fire starter, I used cotton pads. These are dipped into the melted paraffin wax, ensuring they are thoroughly saturated. The process involves careful dipping and allowing excess wax to drip off.
The waxed cotton pads are then placed on a plate to cool and harden. I made several, experimenting with both single and multiple pads combined to compare burn times later.
Crafting Fire Starters from Newspaper Strips
The second type involved strips of newspaper. These strips are dipped in the wax, similar to the cotton pads. Using a stick helps to manage the process and ensures even coating.
After dipping, the strips are carefully rolled up tightly and dipped again for a final coat. This secures the wax and prevents unraveling. The result is a compact, wax-coated newspaper roll.
Adding Citronella Oil (Optional)
For an experiment, I added citronella lamp oil to a batch of wax. I had it around, and thought it might be beneficial. The resulting mixture created a semi-solid cloud that I broke up before continuing.
Both cotton pads and newspaper fire starters were made with this citronella-infused wax. The aim was to see if it would affect the burn time or create other differences.
Burn Test and Results
The burn test was conducted outdoors in windy, damp conditions to simulate real-world scenarios. Various fire starters – single and multiple cotton pads, and newspaper rolls – both with and without citronella oil, were tested.
The thickest cotton pad fire starter, with several layers, lasted the longest (around 17 minutes), while single cotton pads and newspaper rolls lasted significantly less. The citronella oil did not make a noticeable difference.
Store-Bought Fire Starters: A Comparison
While DIY is fun, I also discovered store-bought fire starter cubes. A brick of 48 cubes cost around $6.50 CAD (approximately $4.25 USD). These cubes burn for about 15 minutes each.
Comparing the DIY and store-bought options, the store-bought cubes offer convenience and comparable burn time at a low cost, making them a worthy alternative to extensive DIY projects.
Conclusion: Are DIY Fire Starters Worth It?
DIY fire starters are a fun project for experienced crafters, providing a sense of accomplishment and potential cost savings. However, for convenience and similar burn times, the low-cost store-bought option (approximately 15 minutes per cube) is equally effective and far less time-consuming.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your preference. If you enjoy DIY projects and have the time, making your own fire starters is a rewarding experience. Otherwise, the readily available and affordable store-bought cubes are a highly viable alternative.